VP, Advanced Manufacturing

Description

Position Summary:

Reporting to the COO, this leader will drive strategic manufacturing initiatives including new factory launches, network optimization, capacity planning, and the deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies across a 3,000-employee custom engineering and production environment. The Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing is responsible for designing, scaling, and optimizing the company’s manufacturing network to support rapid growth in the power distribution industry. This role ensures the organization is building the right capacity, in the right locations, with the right technologies—while enabling plant teams to remain focused on safe, efficient day-to-day operations.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Factory Openings & Network Expansion

• Own end-to-end execution of new manufacturing site launches, from concept through full production ramp.
• Define site selection criteria, facility design, layout optimization, and capacity modeling.
• Develop automation strategies, equipment specifications, and capital plans aligned to product and volume requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts (Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, IT) to ensure successful and timely launches.
• Establish scalable operating models that enable long-term growth and repeatability
  
  

Oversee Factory Closures & Consolidations

• Lead strategic evaluations of manufacturing footprint to optimize cost, efficiency, and service levels.
• Develop and execute consolidation and closure plans, including asset redeployment and workforce transition strategies.
• Mitigate operational, financial, and customer risks throughout transitions.
• Ensure continuity of supply and minimal disruption to production and delivery commitments.
  
  

Drive Enterprise-Wide Capacity Planning

• Build and maintain a comprehensive view of manufacturing capacity across all sites (labor, equipment, and throughput).
• Identify constraints, bottlenecks, and underutilized assets.
• Develop scenario models to support demand planning, capital allocation, and network strategy.
• Partner with commercial and operations teams to proactively align capacity with growth projections.
  
  

Expand Capacity in Cost-Effective Ways

• Lead initiatives to increase output through debottlenecking, line balancing, and process optimization.
• Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and labor productivity.
• Implement flexible manufacturing strategies to adapt to product mix and demand variability.
• Prioritize and execute targeted capital investments with strong ROI discipline.
  
  

Leverage Technology & Automation

• Champion the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies including automation, robotics, and digital tools.
• Deploy data analytics and performance systems to improve visibility, decision-making, and throughput.
• Standardize scalable technology solutions across the manufacturing network.
• Partner with IT and Engineering to modernize systems and enable smart factory capabilities.
  
  

Ensure Operational Excellence Across Sites

• Establish and drive consistent standards for safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Implement best practices and continuous improvement methodologies across all facilities.
• Monitor performance metrics and ensure accountability to operational targets.
• Build a culture of discipline, reliability, and continuous improvement.
  
  

Partner Across the Enterprise

• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, HR, and IT to align manufacturing strategy with business objectives.
• Support new product introductions by ensuring manufacturing readiness and scalability.
• Provide strategic input into long-term growth planning, capital strategy, and operational investments.
• Act as a key advisor to executive leadership on manufacturing and capacity-related decisions.
  
  

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including multi-site responsibility.
• Proven track record leading factory startups, expansions, and network optimization initiatives.
• Deep expertise in custom/engineered-to-order manufacturing environments (e.g., power distribution equipment, electrical systems, industrial fabrication).
• Strong background in capacity planning, automation, and operational excellence methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.).
• Demonstrated success deploying advanced manufacturing technologies and driving measurable productivity gains.
• Experience managing large-scale capital projects and complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
  
  

Core Competencies & Behaviors

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate growth plans into executable manufacturing strategies.
• Hands-on leader who can operate at both the conceptual and operational levels.
• Highly collaborative, with a partnership-oriented mindset across functions and sites.
• Results-driven with a strong focus on cost discipline, scalability, and execution excellence.
• Change agent capable of leading transformation in a fast-growing, evolving organization.
  
  

Salary Description

up to $295,000